Source transfer switch



Jan. 10, 1950 l R. N.v Rows 2,494,313

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NUEMAL /WEMAL /fvp/cAr//va srv/rchl //v INDICATI/v6 sw/m/ /,v L/GHT /m Noxa/w41. LIGHT/1 ALTERNATE Pos/nav Pos/r/o/v ALTERNATE EMLRGEA/CY ALTERNATE fufzatwcr N0 RMA L NUE/WAL INDICA T/ MGM 5W] TCH /A/ IND/CA 77% SWITCH /N LIGHT EMERGENCY L IGH 7 /oel/F P051 TION ALTEPAMTE ,EMERGENCY ALTERNATE EMERGENCY :Nvu/ron. Ray'nwn/d NRwv sv A ONEY Patented Jan. 10, 1950 2,494,313 SOURCE TRANSFER swl'rcn Raymond N. Rowe, Plainv The Trumbull Electric Damy A necticut ille, Conn., assignor to Manufacturing Com- Plaineld, Conn., a corporation of Con- Application December 22, 1945, Seriall No. 636,738

8 Claims.

My invention relates to switches capable of connecting a load to any one of several sources of current or vice versa connecting any one of several loads to a source of power.

The main object is to provide a switch capable of selectively connecting a load to any one of at least three sources of power.

The invention constitutes an improvement on the invention set forth in my application for United States Patent led December 6, 1945, Serial Number 633,147, now Patent No. 2,457,497, Dec. 28, 1948, which serves to control two sources of power for a given load or vice versa, a single source selectively arranged to serve two load eircuits.

For the safe control cf power in such devices the switching mechanism should be of the quick make and break type and enclosed in a suitable receptacle or box with an external operating handle.

One object is to provide a switch of this character in which the parts of the switch contact mechanism are assembled as a unit and the parts of the actuating mechanism are assembled as a discrete unit and the two mechanism units are so constructed and assembled so that they are placed in operable connection by the mere closing of the box cover.

Another object is to provide a switch of this character in which the contacts are all mounted in the body of the box and the actuating mechanism is all mounted on the cover.

Another object is to provide a switch in which the operator is compelled to disconnect the circuits completely before he can complete other circuits.

Another object is to compel the operator to make a complete rotation of the actuating handle before he can change from one position to another.

Another object is to provide a switch in which the switch mechanism can be turned in either direction so that the circuits can be made or broken consecutively in either of two orders, i. e. a circuit can be completed from an off position by turning the handle either right or left handed and the circuit can be broken from an on position by turning the handle either to the right or to the left.

Another object is to provide a construction in which the operating handle can be locked with the switch circuits in any one of the several arrangements provided.

be understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a front view of one form of switch embodying my invention, the box being closed.

Fig. 2 is a side view and partial section of the switch.

Fig. 3 is a view showing the cover open with the switching parts mounted in the box and the actuating mechanism attached to the inside of the cover in the normal position.

Fig. 4 is a view of the actuating mechanism in the same position as in Fig. 3, parts being broken away.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the plane of the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the plane of the line 1-1 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of parts of the actuating mechanism in the relative position they occupy when starting to throw the switch.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of the parts in an intermediate position.

Fig. 10 is a view of the gear member of the actuating mechanism.

Fig. 11 is an edge and partial sectional view of the same.

Fig. 12 is a View of the cam member assembled with the lost motion device of the actuating mechanism but omitting the springs.

Fig. 13 is an edge and partial sectional view of the parts of Fig. 12.

Figs. 14, 15, 16 and 1'7 are diagrammatic views of the circuits in the respective positions of normal power connection, alternate power connection, emergency connection and an oil position.

In the form shown the box has a body 20 and a cover 2| hinged to it at 22 and tightly secured by fastener 23 when in use as set forth and described in application Serial Number 619,998, filed October 3, 1945.

The contact making and breaking parts or switch per se may be of any suitable type with a rotatable central shaft 24 for the movable switch member supported in the body of the box and having an arm 25 by which the movable switch mem-ber may be rotated step by step in,

either direction and an insulating top plate 26.-

A general type of switch which may be used is shown in my above-mentioned application S. N. 633,147, filed Dec. 6, 1945. Details of the preferred switching unit per se are shown and Improvements in details of the assembly will claimed in a later application, S. N. 652,586, led

genesis This disc is guided at its periphery by brackets 34 carried by the cover. Inclined guides 35 assist in positioning the disc with respect to the switch arm when the cover is being closed. A stud 25' carried by arm 25 is provided to act as a stop against the top plate 25 in case pressure is applied to the arm.

The shaft 21 and disc II are rotated step by step by the quick make and break mechanism inside the cover when actuated by the rotation of the handle 40 on the outside. The latter has a shaft 4I mounted in the bearing 42 and having a pinion 43 on the inner end. This pinion meshes with an internal annular gear 44 inside the cover supported by a disc 45. The disc has a collar 48 'rotatable on the shaft 21 and the periphery of the disc is secured to the annular gear.

A cam member 41 which may beformed of a number of plates secured together is secured to the disc 3| by a number of studs 48, 48, 48 and 48, 49, 48. The cam member has six cam pro- Jections corresponding to the number of circuit making and breaking positions the switch is intended to provide. Two rollers 50, 50 are provided, one on either edge of the cam member. These rollers are carried by arms I, 5I pivoted at 52, 52 and the arms are biased by spring 53 so as to press the rollers against the opposite edges of the cam member and normally into the bottoms of the spaces between cam projections as shown in Fig. 4.

Between the disc 45 and the cam member 41 is located a lost motion device 54 which may be made up of a number of plates suitably secured together by studs 55, the ends of which extend into elongated slots 58 in the disc 45.

This lost motion device has three outwardly projecting segments 51, 51 adapted to move between adjacent studs 48, 48 but normally held midway as shown in Figs. 4 and 12 by the action of springs 58, 58. The lost motion device has three outwardly projecting lugs 58,' 59 and the cam member 41 has three lugs 80. 80 projecting inwardly between lugs 58, 59 and the springs 5l are located in the spaces between adjacent lugs 5I and 88.

It will thus be seen that when the handle 48 is rotated it will rotate the annular gear 44 by means of the pinion 43. The lost motion device 54 will not move however until each stud 55 reaches one end or the other of its slot 55. When the device starts to rotate it compresses the springs 5t between lugs 58 and 80 so as to store up power. When the device 54 rotates sumciently each segment 51 engages a stud 4l and starts the rotation of the cam member 41. This forces the rollers 50, 5U outwardly to the position of Fig. 8. As soon as the resistances of the rollers is overbalanccd by the power stored by the compression of the springs 58, 58, the springs 58 and crees. By rotating the handle in the opposite direction the switch may be thrown in the opposite direction and so step by step in either 54 may be held together by means of a cover plate 8| having key-hole shaped openings 8|' to engage beneath the heads'A oi' studs l5.

circle represents an Each black dot represents a Fig. 15 the current hows to LI, L2 and L3 respec- I claim.

l. A transfer type switch comprising a rotatable switch member rotatable in throwing member geared so that said handle may be rotated more than 360 before it will rotate said throwing member from one switching position to either the preceding or succeeding position.

2. Transfer switch mechanism including a rotatable cam member having a series of uniform alternate recesses and projections arranged around its entire periphery, a rotatable actuating handle, lost-motion and spring take-up means of connection between said handle and said cam member and a pair of opposed spring pressed members engaging the periphery oi said cam member for causing its sudden rotation free from control of the .oper-ator.

3. In a transfer type electric switch, a rotatable switch member having ofi" position and on positions alternating with the "oiP positions, a rotatable cam member, means of connection between said cam member and said `rotatable switch member, a rotatable pick-up member having a lost-motion and spring connection. with said cam member, a rotatable gear member having a two-way lost motion connection with said pickup member and a handle member geared to said gear member, said cam member having uniform recesses and projections alternating' with the recesses and a pair of opposed spring pressed rollers coacting with the projections and recesses of the cam member for rotating the cam member stepby-step when the handle is rotated.

4. In an electric switch, a switch member rotatable step by step, actuating mechanism ior said switch member comprising a cam member having 4a number of identical cam shoulders with intervening recesses extending 360 around said cam member, means for connecting said cam member with said switch member, a gear member, a rotatable handle having a pinion for driving said gear member, a lost motion device interposed between said gear mem-ber and said cam member and having a stud and elongated slot connection with said gear member and having a reversible lost motion connection including throwing springs with said cam member, and a pair of opposed spring pressed members coacting with the shoulders and recesses of said cam member to cooperate with the throwing springs in rotating said cam member and said switch member out of control of the operator when said handle is rotated.

5. A transfer switch having a plurality of on positions and an equal number of of1!" positions alternating therewith, a rotatable switching member movable step by step in either direction between stations corresponding to these positions, an actuating handle rotatable freely over at least 360, and a connection between said handle and said rotatablel switching member whereby the switch member may be rotated back and forth step by step as the handle is rotated, consecutive movements in either direction requiring the handle tobe rotated at least 360.

6. In a transfer electric switch, a plate rotatable in either direction and having a number of projections alternating with recesses. each prober of recesses in its jection having a rounded end and each projection being shaped like all the other projections, a spring pressed roller coacting with said projections and recesses as the plate is rotated, a gear coaxial with said plate, lost-motion means of connection between said gear and said plate, a handle having a-pinion meshing with said gear and rotatable in either direction, the ratio of the pinion to the gear being such that for a single rotation of said handle and `pinion the plate i-s turned through an angle equal to the angular spacing of the projections on the plate, and a rotor actuated by said plate.

'7. In an enclosed switch including a receptacle having a cover, a rotor element mounted in the receptacle and having a crank arm, a plate rotatably carried by the cover and having a numperiphery, a pair of rollers spring-pressed against the periphery of said plate, a gear coaxial with said plate, lost motion means ofconnection including spring means between v'said gear and said plate, a handle rotatably carried -by said cover and having -a pinion on the inner end meshing with said gear and means for connecting said plate with said crank arm when the cover is closed.

8. A switch for transferring a load from onesource to another comprising means having a plurality oi stationary switch contact stations with oil stations alternating with the contact stations and a rotor member having spaced contacts adapted to coact with the stationary contact stations and means for rotating said rotor step by step in either direction, said means including a control cam member having alternating projections and recesses uniformly located around the entire periphery of the cam member, a springpressed member coacting with the periphery oi the cam member to hold it yieldingly in on or off position, a gear member having a limited lost motion connection with said cam member and a manually rotatable pinion meshing with said gear member, the ratio of the pinion to the gear member being such as to ensure rotation of the cam member from an o station to an "on station or vice versa when the pinion is turned 360 in one direction or the other.

RAYMOND N. ROWE.

REFERENCES CITED l The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,494,313 Jennery i0, 1950 RAYMOND N. ROWE It is hereh certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction as fo lows:

In the heading to the'printed specification, line 5, address of assignee, for Plainiield, Connecticut read Plainmlle, Connecticut;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of May, A. D. 1950.

iwi 

